How to Be a Difficult Bitch: Claim Your Power, Ditch the Haters, and Feel Good Doing It

by Halley Bondy, Mary C. Fernandez, Zara Hanawalt, Sharon Lynn Pruitt-Young

Overview

In the past, being a "difficult bitch" was bad. Girls weren't supposed to call people out for their BS, stand up for themselves, or do their own thing..….not anymore!

This book embraces the insult with irreverent humor, encouraging readers to be themselves no matter what, including an exploration of the ways this phrase can be interpreted differently among people of different backgrounds.

Being a powerhouse is a choice. It's a lifestyle. It's a code of ethics. It takes work, a thick skin, and perseverance. In this book, you'll learn the ins and outs of being a Difficult Bitch, from school to friends to body to life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781541586741
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/05/2022
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	5.75(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.59(d)
Lexile:	970L (what's this?)
Age Range:	14 - 15 Years

About the Author

Halley Bondy is a professional freelance writer, journalist, editor, producer, and mom based in Brooklyn. Her articles have appeared in NBC News, The Balance, Contently, Digital Trends, Bustle, Romper, The Outline, MTV, and more. She has written six books for Zest, including #MeToo and You: Everything You Need to Know about Consent, Boundaries, and More and Speak Up: A Guide to Having a Say and Speaking Your Mind.

Mary C. Fernandez is a business consultant and writer based in Durham, North Carolina.

Zara Hanawalt is a writer and editor based in Chicago, Illinois. Her work has appeared in publications such as The Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan.com, Parents.com, Seventeen.com, and US Weekly.

Sharon Lynn Pruitt-Young is a freelance writer and author. Her work has been published in various publications including USA TODAY College, Persephone Magazine, Afro Punk, and Black Girl Nerds. She is based in Maryland.

Table of Contents

Intro and Commandments 7

Chapter 1 The Difficult Empowered Bitch 12

Chapter 2 The Difficult Social Bitch 26

Chapter 3 The Difficult Self-Expressive Bitch 40

Chapter 4 The Difficult Healthy Bitch 54

Chapter 5 The Difficult Scholarly Bitch 68

Chapter 6 The Difficult Online Bitch 84

Chapter 7 The Difficult Extracurricular Bitch 98

Chapter 8 The Difficult Financial Bitch 110

Chapter 9 The Difficult Activist Bitch 126

Chapter 10 The Difficult Future Bitch 140

Further Reading 148

Index 150

Editorial Reviews

"A thoughtful, engaging, bad-ass crash course in moxie, self-confidence, and self-love."—starred, Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

★ 2022-01-11
An illustrated self-empowerment manual for teens.

A bitch, according to Bondy’s introduction, is a powerhouse, an agent of change who threatens the status quo in service of their personal well-being and for the greater good. The Difficult Bitch commandments read, in part, that Difficult Bitches shall “break boundaries for a better world,” “stand up for themselves,” and “own up,” and shall not “worry about haters,” “back down,” or “be petty.” Bondy and her co-authors are thorough and intentional about addressing the particular experiences and concerns of people of color and people with disabilities. They write that “people of any gender identity can be a Difficult Bitch and take the advice in this book.” And what great, comprehensive advice it is. This slim volume packs a lot of wisdom, with chapters on body image; school; stress; internet safety; pursuing extracurricular passions; and more. The chapter on activism is a standout, as is the one covering money, employment, entrepreneurship, and personal finance. Every topic is presented with sections labeled “hypothetical,” real-world scenarios followed by guidance that reflects the nuance and complexity of situations teens may find themselves in. The authors explore these critical topics in frank, compelling, and humorous ways. They address issues that matter to teen girls with deep empathy and age-appropriate language and without being condescending or preachy.

A thoughtful, engaging, bad-ass crash course in moxie, self-confidence, and self-love. (further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews